Abstract

It was aimed to determine the rate of not performing breast self-examination (BSE) every month and the factors affecting this rate. Data were collected using the face-to-face collection technique until the sample size of female patients aged 40 and above who presented to the outpatient clinic was completed. Women who had breast surgery were not included in the study. The dependent variable of the study was having performed BSE every month within the last year. Independent variables were sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and biodemographic characteristics. The incidence of not performing BSE regularly was 2.773 (CI:1.606–4.791) times higher in women living in the town/village than those living in the city/district center, 3.390 (CI:1.462–7.861) times higher in those with no formal education compared to those who received 5 or more years of education, 2.506 (CI:1.133–5.543) times higher in patients who did not have a family history of breast cancer than in those who did, and 3.128 (CI:1.750–5.592) times higher in those who did not receive BSE training from family health midwives than those who did. The factors for not performing periodic BSE were living in rural areas, having a low level of education, no family history of breast cancer, and not having received training from a family health midwife.

Key words: Breast, breast cancer, breast self-examination, general surgery, Turkey